Teams & Riders Geraint Thomas

[del1962]

Re: Re:

G said in an interview on BBC website that he is aiming for the road race and time trial at the olympics next year and so said riding the giro might be too hard (with the tour afterwards) for him. He also seemed to say that he is riding the vuelta this year too.

Any news on if he's Team GB's leader for Richmond? I heard something about Sky saying it would be Kennaugh, but we haven't heard much more.

Is it not a Cav friendly course?

 

[TMP402]

Re: Re:

G said in an interview on BBC website that he is aiming for the road race and time trial at the olympics next year and so said riding the giro might be too hard (with the tour afterwards) for him. He also seemed to say that he is riding the vuelta this year too.

Any news on if he's Team GB's leader for Richmond? I heard something about Sky saying it would be Kennaugh, but we haven't heard much more.

Is it not a Cav friendly course?

My verdict is no. Matthews, Degenkolb, Sagan, Kristoff maybe, but I'd still back the likes of Kwiatkowski, Valverde, D Martin, Gilbert, GVA, Gallopin first. It's similar to AGR in the sense that Matthews-like sprinters can be there in the finale but it's only 1-1.5km between the end of the final climb and the finish line, so if sprinters have spent all their energy keeping up with the puncheurs, they won't have enough left to win the sprint between the fast finishers like Valverde and Kwia. GVA kind of spans the two genres and is my dark horse. On the other hand, guys like T Martin, Thomas, Cancellara, may be able to get a gap shortly before the climb and keep the advantage, or else stay with the favourites on the climb and power away from the bunch.

 

[robin440]

can't wait for that race!

 

[DBotero]

Geraint Thomas ‏@GeraintThomas86 17h17 hours ago

Nice bike ride in the Italian hills today and was reunited with these bad boys @GeraintsGlasses @chrisfroome

 

[Waterloo Sunrise]

Re: Re:

G said in an interview on BBC website that he is aiming for the road race and time trial at the olympics next year and so said riding the giro might be too hard (with the tour afterwards) for him. He also seemed to say that he is riding the vuelta this year too.

Any news on if he's Team GB's leader for Richmond? I heard something about Sky saying it would be Kennaugh, but we haven't heard much more.

I know Sky have a pretty incestuous relationing with British Cycling, but it would have to be pretty ******** twisted for Kennaugh to end up leader ahead of the Yates brothers or Cav depending on exactly how hard it is.

 

[elfed68]

Would the course not suit Geraint? Surely he's stronger than Kennaugh.

 

[Velolover2]

I would like to see him in Tour of Britain.

Wiggo (if in serious shape) vs. Thomas could be fun.

 

[DFA123]

Re: Re:

G said in an interview on BBC website that he is aiming for the road race and time trial at the olympics next year and so said riding the giro might be too hard (with the tour afterwards) for him. He also seemed to say that he is riding the vuelta this year too.

Any news on if he's Team GB's leader for Richmond? I heard something about Sky saying it would be Kennaugh, but we haven't heard much more.

I know Sky have a pretty incestuous relationing with British Cycling, but it would have to be pretty ******** twisted for Kennaugh to end up leader ahead of the Yates brothers or Cav depending on exactly how hard it is.

Agree with this entirely. The only way it really makes any sense is if they have a policy of the National Champion automatically being leader - which is fair in a way, but certainly doesn't maximize chances of winning.

Perhaps Kennaugh could be the 'official' leader, but with Thomas and Yates having free roles.

 

[fowlyetti]

Re: Re:

G said in an interview on BBC website that he is aiming for the road race and time trial at the olympics next year and so said riding the giro might be too hard (with the tour afterwards) for him. He also seemed to say that he is riding the vuelta this year too.

Any news on if he's Team GB's leader for Richmond? I heard something about Sky saying it would be Kennaugh, but we haven't heard much more.

I know Sky have a pretty incestuous relationing with British Cycling, but it would have to be pretty ******** twisted for Kennaugh to end up leader ahead of the Yates brothers or Cav depending on exactly how hard it is.

Agree with this entirely. The only way it really makes any sense is if they have a policy of the National Champion automatically being leader - which is fair in a way, but certainly doesn't maximize chances of winning.

Perhaps Kennaugh could be the 'official' leader, but with Thomas and Yates having free roles.

They dont have a policy on national champion. Kennaugh was champion last year and they rode for Swift.

 

[DFA123]

Re: Re:

They dont have a policy on national champion. Kennaugh was champion last year and they rode for Swift.

So they didn't have a policy last year, doesn't mean they don't now.

After the debacle of riding for Swift, perhaps they though a more structured approach was needed.

 

[kenk09]

They're not riding for Kennaugh.

 

[TMP402]

I think it was that when Rod Ellingworth saw the course he predicted Kennaugh would win. Can't see it happening now.

 

[Bushman]

Kennaugh is one of the most overrated and overhyped riders in the peloton. A good climber on the day but nothing more and not very consistent.

A couple of years ago I remember some talk of him being a good tt'er and prologue specialist because of his track background even though he has never done a really good tt against a good field

 

[kenk09]

Re:

Kennaugh is one of the most overrated and overhyped riders in the peloton. A good climber on the day but nothing more and not very consistent.

A couple of years ago I remember some talk of him being a good tt'er and prologue specialist because of his track background even though he has never done a really good tt against a good field

He rarely gets a chance to ride for himself. You can count the number of opportunities he's had on one hand, but when he gets them, he produces.

2011 - twice. 3rd at Route du Sud, 5th at Tour de Pologne.
2012 - zero times, Olympic year.
2013 - zero times
2014 - three times. 1st at Coppi e Bartali, 10th at Bayern Rundfahrt, 1st at Tour of Austria
2015 - zero times (still 6th in Ruta del Sol, 9th in California)

 

[TMP402]

Re: Re:

Kennaugh is one of the most overrated and overhyped riders in the peloton. A good climber on the day but nothing more and not very consistent.

A couple of years ago I remember some talk of him being a good tt'er and prologue specialist because of his track background even though he has never done a really good tt against a good field

He rarely gets a chance to ride for himself. You can count the number of opportunities he's had on one hand, but when he gets them, he produces.

2011 - twice. 3rd at Route du Sud, 5th at Tour de Pologne.
2012 - zero times, Olympic year.
2013 - zero times
2014 - three times. 1st at Coppi e Bartali, 10th at Bayern Rundfahrt, 1st at Tour of Austria
2015 - zero times (still 6th in Ruta del Sol, 9th in California)

Not sure that even counts since Thomas won, no? (not disputing your point, in fact i'm arguing for it even more by excluding that result)

 

[Vasilis]

Re: Re:

Kennaugh is one of the most overrated and overhyped riders in the peloton. A good climber on the day but nothing more and not very consistent.

A couple of years ago I remember some talk of him being a good tt'er and prologue specialist because of his track background even though he has never done a really good tt against a good field

He rarely gets a chance to ride for himself. You can count the number of opportunities he's had on one hand, but when he gets them, he produces.

2011 - twice. 3rd at Route du Sud, 5th at Tour de Pologne.
2012 - zero times, Olympic year.
2013 - zero times
2014 - three times. 1st at Coppi e Bartali, 10th at Bayern Rundfahrt, 1st at Tour of Austria
2015 - zero times (still 6th in Ruta del Sol, 9th in California)

Not sure that even counts since Thomas won, no? (not disputing your point, in fact i'm arguing for it even more by excluding that result)

They also had Kiryienka in third and Knees 14th. They tend to have quite a few riders up there when they're there. They ought to have been mentioned as Ruta and California were indeed.

 

[Pricey_sky]

I hope GB ride for Thomas and the Yates brothers, I cant see Cav quite being able to make it.

 

[DBotero]

Re:

I think it was that when Rod Ellingworth saw the course he predicted Kennaugh would win. Can't see it happening now.

Kennaugh looks done for this year,i suppose they'll ride for G. But there is more to this as he's not riding Eneco despite this:

Peter kennaugh ‏@Petekennaugh Aug 3

Next race up is eneco can't wait to get back racing

 

[Biggut]

I think they are riding for Cav. I think that since the course was announced he's been losing weight, which has affected his out and out sprint, with regaining the rainbow Jersey in mind. I could be wrong but his performance at the national Champs showed more short climbing ability than he's displayed before.

 

[TMP402]

Thomas likely to ride the Vuelta. He would be a strong card at the worlds, but surely he is going to be **** after doing two GTs in a row after a heavy classics season.

 

[Jan the Man]

Re:

Thomas likely to ride the Vuelta. He would be a strong card at the worlds, but surely he is going to be **** after doing two GTs in a row after a heavy classics season.

Not if he goes there to specifically prepare for the worlds and pulls out after say stage 12/13- a lot of other riders have done it historically.

 

[Pricey_sky]

If I was Thomas I'd ride Britain, it gives him a longer rest and is getting more and more competitive as a Worlds warm up.

 

[GuyIncognito]

Re:

I think they are riding for Cav. I think that since the course was announced he's been losing weight, which has affected his out and out sprint, with regaining the rainbow Jersey in mind. I could be wrong but his performance at the national Champs showed more short climbing ability than he's displayed before.

Quite the opposite. He said before the season that he would start working specifically on his sprint for the first time ever, as he's never needed to

 

[TMP402]

Re: Re:

Thomas likely to ride the Vuelta. He would be a strong card at the worlds, but surely he is going to be **** after doing two GTs in a row after a heavy classics season.

Not if he goes there to specifically prepare for the worlds and pulls out after say stage 12/13- a lot of other riders have done it historically.

Well that will depend on Froome. Now Froome's doing the Vuelta, Thomas might be needed. Now it's up to Brailsford/Ellingworth which they prefer: a place at the table of WC contenders or a strong shot at the Vuelta. Personally I'd think the latter was a more sure thing.

 

[Tank Engine]

Re: Re:

Thomas likely to ride the Vuelta. He would be a strong card at the worlds, but surely he is going to be **** after doing two GTs in a row after a heavy classics season.

Not if he goes there to specifically prepare for the worlds and pulls out after say stage 12/13- a lot of other riders have done it historically.

Well that will depend on Froome. Now Froome's doing the Vuelta, Thomas might be needed. Now it's up to Brailsford/Ellingworth which they prefer: a place at the table of WC contenders or a strong shot at the Vuelta. Personally I'd think the latter was a more sure thing.

These posts describe exactly what I feel. In terms of Thomas's goals, going to the Vuelta in a free role, for training and stage hunting rather than GC orientated, would be a good option with the goal of being in good shape for the Worlds and possibly Lombardia (for the first time in his career leadership there seems realistic). However, if Froome is going there, it's obvious that the goal is to do the double and that trumps G's individual goals from the team point of view. He's raced a lot this season and being one of Froome's main wing men is a tough call. Especially as he doesn't seem to like the heat.